Build a Fire @ Home Plate Out of Your Louisville Slugger Baseball Bats: 2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Clapotis, Paris Version

Clapotis, Paris Version
Originally uploaded by feigenbaum_04

Second Clapotis scarf I'm knitting. Fast this time through. Same type of yarn (Casbah sock yarn from Hand Maiden - a Canadian group), but the colorway is "Paris". Very pretty.

WHAT THE FUCKING HELL?!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/30/illinois.senate/index.html

BLAGO TO APPOINT OBAMA'S SUCCESSOR?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

THIS IS FUCKING OUTRAGEOUS! GOD DAMN MOTHERFUCKING ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE, DICKING ABOUT ! IMPEACH THIS MOTHERFUCKING ALREADY! IT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A FUCKING DAY!

Sarah Palin's "family values" continues into the next generation: <a href=http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/12/sarah_palins_grandson_what_a_t.html>her daughter just gave birth to a boy</a>, Tripp. Yeah, great job with the stupid names, too.

Wonder if he'll grow up to be as rabidly moronic (and a high school dropout) as the rest of his clan?

Monday, December 29, 2008

Short Update

Gotta go run and catch the Metra.

Dear GOD, I don't know WHAT it was, but something did not like me that I ate. I don't think it was the drink. I mean, yes, I am a tequila wuss, but it was only ONE margarita and I've never felt like THAT after a margarita.

Horrible nausea and a headache, even after I took some advil.

I literally got out of bed, and lay down on the tiles in the bathroom with my head against the (cool) tub. That was the thing that sort of steadied me. I was in there for maybe 10 minutes and was finally able to get the nausea under control.

Igg.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Band of Brothers, Spiers God of War

Holy fuck. Band of Brothers is on History Channel. It's the episode where Spiers takes over for the incompetent ass at Foy.

Jesus. Watching this part just astounds me every time. Spiers ran STRAIGHT INTO the German line...AND BACK. Unreal.

Monday, December 22, 2008

COMMUTE THIS

Jesus fucking Christ. I don't think I can come up with anything to say about my commute back to the city other than I AM SICK OF THESE FUCKING ASSHOLES CUTTING IN FRONT OF ME AND WHAT A FUCKING LONG DRIVE. It took me OVER an HOUR. And it wasn't even snowing!

And of course, I come back here to discover piles of nice, juicy cat puke. This, of course, was after I'd already been back to my place today and found crusty DRY cat puke there.

Double cat-puke duty. Lovely.

I slammed a bowl of soup in the microwave and then grabbed the bottle of white wine I started yesterday. I took a couple swigs OUT OF THE BOTTLE. Screw the glass.

I am so tired.

I am sitting next to the gas fireplace - cranked on high - wrapped in a blanket.

Missing

I miss the Cubs so much I'm even doing searches on TED LILLY.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

I FUCKING HATE WINTER, PART ELEVENTY

This is going to be one FUCKING MISERABLE winter. Ugh.

I was outside for over an HOUR in this BRUTAL COLD, trying to get my car unstuck. This is one instance where I would not mind having a truck because the undercarriage would sit higher. There was no way in hell I was going to get unstuck myself. Two enterprising young guys in a trashy pickup were driving around, towing people out all day. They stopped by me and eventually got me unstuck. (I'm just hoping I don't have any damage to the undercarriage!) I gave them all the money I had in my wallet - probably around $24.

I then drove to Whole Foods.

It was a good thing I went through all this hassle today instead of trying to do it tomorrow morning. I am definitely getting up at the asscrack of dawn to drive to work. I'm HOPING city streets and sanitation will come by and plow the streets again - to get where everyone has been parked - but I'm extremely doubtful.

I'll have to run and do some errands while I'm up in the 'burbs. Check on my own cats, change the litter, etc.

GOD.

It is so cold and miserable, I am contemplating going to a tanning booth just to feel warm. Guh.

WINTER SUCKS

DEAR FREAKING GOD:

The wind chill makes it feel like it is NEGATIVE 30F!!! Are you fucking kidding me? It's -4F without the bloody wind chill.

Guh.

I think this effectively settles the question of my leaving the place to go to the gym. I would have to walk at least half a mile in this to the Addison stop and wait for the train. In that time, my face will probably want to fall off. It's Rodney Yee yoga video time here.

I also have leftover chicken noodle soup. NO NEED TO GO OUT. I had thought about venturing outside to do a little more shopping, but HELL NO.

I still don't know what my plans are for tomorrow. I should take the train to work, but...I need to pick up some more stuff from home. In order to do that, I would have to drive. Ugh. If I want to drive, I'm gonna have to leave real early. Well, maybe not, I'm sure the drive will be light - most people will have taken off work Mon already.

Oh great. And the high tomorrow is supposed to be 10F. Again, the windchill will knock that back to -4F.

SUCK SUCK SUCK

Coffee or Black Tar

Good LORD, I just made some black-ass coffee. I should not be allowed to use a conventional coffee maker. A french plunge pot I can do just fine, but the regular thing? Nuh-uh.

Oatmeal, check.

Time to do some work. Blargh. Boy, am I glad I have a TWO DAY WORK WEEK!!! WOOT!

I just wish this were my actual living space. It's rather pleasant being at the dining room table, with the blinds open and light coming in.

Except Ouzo is occasionally yowling his fool head off.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Sat

Yaaaaawn.

Went and did a lot of walking in cold snowiness, but it was a good day. I bought a thoroughly evil holiday baking book at Hanger 18 (16? 14?) in Lincoln Square. I mean, really, do I NEED another cookbook full of evil deliciousness? The short answer is probably not, BUT OH MY GOD it looks so evil good.

Have been knitting scarf for a bit. Need to finish by xmas eve!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Madelines & pan

Madelines & pan
Originally uploaded by feigenbaum_04

My second batch of madelines. Gorgeous. Slightly different recipe this time around. This one used cardamom. I've never used cardamom before - it was rather strange and exotic smelling to me.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

WHAT THE FUCK

Blago is an ASSHOLE. He wants his high-profile, high $$$$ attorney to BE PAID BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS? FUCK YOU.

Weather

I'm gonna cry.

One of my co-workers who lives in Kenosha (just over the border) said her husband called and said we have a warning for 10-13" of ice/snow tomorrow night through Friday.

TEN TO THIRTEEN INCHES.

Now, I knew about the ice storm (possible 1-3" of THAT) coming tomorrow, but ALL THAT SNOW ON TOP OF IT?!

PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS A SCURRILOUS LIE!

Preparation, preparation, preparation

It's the three most important things a Slayer can do, according to Wesley Wyndham Price.

I should go and get a new ice scraper tonight. You know, one that actually works. I'm sure I'll need it tomorrow.

The other thing is: I'm glad I have gainful employment. Seriously. I have the opportunity to get extra dollars since I'm helping out my old team. I fully plan on using that as much as possible in my push to GET OUT of my mom's house.

Come the first really good spring day, I am going to do some major culling of my crap in the garage. MAJOR.

You've got to be kidding me

Drew Peterson (modern day Blue Beard) is engaged to a 23 year old woman. Bride #5 as it were.

When she ends up mysteriously dead, I won't be surprised. Nor will I be sorry. What stupid bitch would even go near him?!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

W.T.F?

I just got home. The roads are NASTY. I was listening to the radio - FOUR HOURS from Thorndale to downtown. Holy crap.

Anyhow, came home and got the mail. HOW THE FUCK did I get on the mailing list for the freaking CHAPEL? It's this stupid chain of churches in the area?

I very promptly called and left them a message telling them "I don't know HOW or WHY I'm on your mailing list, but I would very much prefer NOT to receive your mailings. If you could remove me as soon as possible, I would appreciate it." Then I gave the code that appeared on the mailer. I'm sure as hell not leaving my name. I hope that takes care of it. If not, I'll call at a time I can actually speak to someone (even though UGH).

Impeachment Hearings

Impeachment hearings for Blago now on.

Dear GOD: is EVERY single fucking member of the co (20?) going to waste five minutes or more going ON AND ON about how "serious" the allegations are, "take this duty very seriously", WAH WAH WAH WAAAAAH?

*rolls eyes*

SERIOUSY, people. Get a fucking MOVE ON already. I don't need to listen to you yap on about how honored you are to serve and how seriously you take this. I should think that goes without saying.

This just seems like more stalling, like you guys are fucking scared TO DO YOUR JOB. HURRY UP AND GET HIM OUT!

Monday, December 15, 2008

All Chicago All the Time

Holy crap. Arne Duncan gonna be named Sec of Ed.

Deeeamn.

Cluck Cluck

I don't know why, well, okay I do, but this is cool:

<a href=http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/green/chi-city-chickens-15-dec15,0,1181076.story>Chickens earning their keep in Chicago backyards</a>

That chicken in the initial video shot is pretty.

I like the idea of keeping chickens. Fresh eggs - you know where they came from. You know what you fed the chickens. I bet they do become friendly pets.

I'm in a "nesting" stage of life (pun probably intended). If only I had the money. I would love to have a big vegetable garden and a couple chickens. I like the idea of producing at least some of my own food.

Yes, but who's paying?

Yeah. See, the GOP is all about saving money when it's THEIR money. When it's money to be spent on advancing them, then it's SPEND SPEND SPEND.

Normally, if our country weren't crashing into the next Great Depression, I'd be all for a special election. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? When IL is one of 43 states facing severe budget shortfalls, somehow, spending $12 million to elect a Senator chaps my fucking hide! And of course, the Goopers are already spending money on ad campaigns to "pressure Dems for a special election". There you go: your Goopers spending our money once again.

I'm willing to let slide and have Quinn appoint someone as an interim Senator because WE DO NOT HAVE TWELVE MILLLLLLLLLION.

<i>The GOP also plans to run television ads pressuring Democrats to approve a special election to replace Obama. Blagojevich still holds the power to appoint a new senator, and if he resigned, that power would go to Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn.

Illinois Republican Party chairman Andy McKenna told reporters the ads will "make the point that this is the people's seat, and the people deserve a special election."</i>

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28236008

Muntadhar al-Zeidi

Dear Muntadhar al-Zeidi,

I only wish you'd actually hit that fucker with your shoe, but nice try! We should declare a "Shoe Day" shouldn't we?

OMMFG

WHY am I at work. I am the first one on my team in today (7:30). I couldn't sleep worth crap last night, what with the sounds of rain turning to pelting ice pellets.

It took at least thirty minutes for me to (1) open my doors and (2) scrape a hole to see through my windshield. My arms feel like they're about to fall off.

I should have just stayed home. No one else besides my boss and maybe the other contractor will show up. Not even the person who lives ACROSS THE BLOODY STREET will come in, and she could walk to work!

I should have. SHOULD HAVE. I could have just done my training session from home anyways, since it's a telecom.

*grumbles, weeps with tiredness*

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Oh, damn you

I finally downloaded that game of the Cubs and Rockies when we came back from 9-1 on the 30th of May. Back before...well, everything.

Scott Eyre pitched in that game. Bitterness. See?! See?! He gets traded and goes to the damn club that winds up winning everything.

We should have won it, there was absolutely NO EXCUSE. God, I shouldn't have watched it..now I'm all agitated again.

Who wants to bet that the Cleveland Indians win it in 09 because Kerry Wood got traded to them? Who wants to bet?

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Testing

Baseball WTF

Someone explain to me WHY we extended contracts (again) to Cedeno and WUERTZ? Jesus effin Christ.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081212&content_id=3715560&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

And much as I harp on about Marsuck, getting rid of him only to pick up certified asshole Milton Bradley seems pretty damn stupid.

Oh, and Neal Cotts will be back. *cough* H *cough*

At least Reed is back.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Madigan Asks IL SC to Oust Blago

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_on_re_us/illinois_governor

He's got to go, yes, but I'm a little wary as Rep. Franks is...doing this would set a potentially dangerous legal precedent. I would prefer he be impeached. It's clear he isn't going to step down. Idiot is still declaring he's innocent and will be proven so.

Fucking narcissist.

And the funny keeps coming

From The Chicago Trib, Phil Rosenthal's column gives a farewell to Spike O'Dell (the really GOOD morning host for WGN 720 AM), inserting a little amusing humor from the recent Blago scandal...

The final Spike: Spike O'Dell wraps up nearly 22 years at Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co.'s WGN-AM 720 and almost nine as host of its popular morning program with Friday's 5-to-9 a.m. farewell show from the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights.

As part of O'Dell's finale, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, the state's highest-ranked official not in trouble with the feds, is scheduled to present the anti-shock jock a proclamation declaring it "Spike O'Dell Day" in Illinois.

You know, a thing like that is bleeping golden.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-fri_phil_rosenthaldec12,0,3893600.column

Thursday, December 11, 2008

You're better off f*#king a dead horse

Oh Jon...I LOVE YOU SO.

From the man who brought you "It's like hunting COWS" the other day...

Monday, December 08, 2008

BoA sucks ass

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard that factory workers at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago are peacefully occupying the place of their former employment. The factory was abruptly shut down. The company had lost its line of credit from Bank of America and claimed they could no longer keep the location open because of it.

Union contract stipulates that 60 days notice or 60 days severance (+ unused vacation pay) be given - none of which was given to the workers. Nada, zip, zilch, zero. Pretty much a "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out".

SO, Bank of America gets bailed out at the taxpayer's expense, and what do they do? Screw over the average hard working American, of course!

I had two lines of credit for computer purchases that were under BoA in the past. Usurious interest rates. I emailed them and said the wouldn't be getting any future business from me - not even to use their ATMs. They don't need to be making $3 a pop off of me so I can withdraw my own damn money.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/08/chicago.labor.protest/index.html

Sunday, December 07, 2008

lyric opera

lyric opera
Originally uploaded by feigenbaum_04

Thursday, December 04, 2008

If you can't beat them [fairly], steal, steal, steal...

And the Rethuglican shenanigans continue. You all hear Alan Keyes (the nutjob black guy who ran against and was soundly whopped by Obama in the Senate election) is ONE of SEVERAL lawsuits trying to get the election overturned?

Some asshats claim Obama wasn't born in the U.S. You fucking dumbasses. Hawaii has backed up Obama's birth certificate.

*rolls eyes*

Just like always. Republicans can't win fair and square, so they try to steal. Party of "morality" my fucking ass.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

For those of you who like to bake

Chicago Tribune had a holiday cookie contest. There are some good looking recipes.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/chi-holiday-cookies-3dec03,0,7691018.story

Of course, I think my almond buttersticks would have bitchslapped most of the contest entries around, but...I did not know about this.

Did I mention...

I dreamed about being on a sheep/goat/things you can make yarn out of farm last night? I'm getting rather fixated on yarn.

Zug

Holy crap I'm tired. I hate winter. I hate how it gets dark so freaking early. All I want to do is hibernate.

I came home last night, had some dinner, and then sat in bed to do a little knitting. (Trying to finish the left mitten.) I was intending to get up and do my yoga videa after digesting, but I could barely stay awake to knit. I was lying in bed, in my dark room, by 7:30.

Pathetic.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

I Am....Mrs. Brian Roberts

You see, Mrs. Brian Roberts is my "take-no-prisoners" alter ego*.

Mrs. Brian Roberts gets a meeting invitation for FOUR PM. ON A FREAKING FRIDAY. Looks at it, and says who the fuck do you think you are? And then hits DECLINE.

Four pm. On a FRIDAY. During the HOLIDAY SEASON. You must be out of your goddamned fucking mind.

ERRRRP! Thanks for playing! Here's a year's supply of a dog food as a parting gift.

*For some stupid reason, when I punch in my telephone number to bring up my club card at Dominick's, it's under "Brian Roberts". WTF? So the cashiers look at the receipt and say "Thank you for shopping at Dominick's Mrs. Roberts." Okay, yeah, whatever. I hope Mr. Roberts is well-endowed and keeps Mrs. happy.

Monday, December 01, 2008

Blargh - A Complainy Post

I am so fucking bored today.

My shoulders are tense. I'm trying to make sure I don't hunch my shoulders up by my ears like I tend to do.

I dislike the dreary light outside right now. I hate that winter-snow light; it's flat, dull and so ungraceful and unflattering to everything.

Cyber-Monday? My email was stuffed with "SHOP TODAY! ZOMG SALE!!!!" emails. Zug. I just can't work up the desire to purchase much of anything right now. Not even that salt lamp. I'd probably get it and be like "meh" once it arrived. The one thing I *really* want (and need!) is a new Macbook. Except I do NOT have the $2200 for the one I want. I literally have no more hard drive space on my old Mac. There was one MLB game I tried to download from iTunes, but can't because I HAVE NO SPACE. I have to offload a bunch of shit and so some serious file cleanup.

I have to finish a few more gift purchases and I really have no desire to do that either. LOVELY xmas.

Ugh. So bored.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

No Black Friday for me

I think I have convinced myself not to go shopping tomorrow. This is good.

I will probably be up ridiculously early anyway, because of the dog, but I don't want to drive to Woodfield. I've done shopping for most people already. If I went, I'd just be tempted to buy for myself.

I think the only thing I may do is buy some Illuminations Fresh Air candles for myself, but I can do that online. They have a nice flat shipping rate. Yay for avoiding shopping crowds!!

Yep. I do believe I will be good and get my ass to the gym tomorrow in the morning.

So. Damn. Tired.

I'm going to need a couple days off AFTER I finish this pet-sitting gig. *groans*

I have barely gotten any sleep. I can't sleep very well when the dog is in his bed near mine, grunting and whuffing and getting up to turn and what not EVERY FIVE FUCKING MINUTES. And then he wants to go outside at like FOUR AM.

So I get up, I let him out. And let him back in. And hobble back to bed.

Only to get back up around 5:30 because they're all - dog and cats - bitching to be fed.

I finally managed to catch some sleep between five thirty and nine. Weird dreams. I dreamt I was in Hawaii and there were massive tornadoes off in the water. Yes, I know water and tornadoes aren't typically it, but they were many and massive. And scary.

I woke myself up making terrified noises.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Blah

I feel so tired today. *yawn*

I am looking forward to having five days off in a row, that's for sure!

I plan to: veg, knit, do yoga, veg some more...maaaaybe do some shopping. I don't know. Tonight I go to the D's house to watch the pets/house until Sunday. They left this morning. I bought Forrest two chewy bones. That dog DESTROYS those bones in no time flat. It's pretty disturbing. I was over there last night to make sure I could access their wifi. Forrest was all "OMG! OMG! *pant pant pant* OMG! OMG!" Big lug.

This whole two-color tubular cast on I need to make for the Brioche Hat is pissing me right the hell off. It's fucking ridiculous and there are NO You Tubes of it that I can find. I really need to see it being done.

Nothing much going on at work right now, which is fine. I spent all day yesterday talking (three training sessions), and my throat is tired.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

yayayayayayay

I think my S4 Doctor Who discs finally arrived!!

*keeps fingers crossed*

At least, that's what the USPS site says!

Time to go home, yet?

I did not want to get out of bed this morning.

I don't quite feel like I'm walking on this planet.

Work yesterday was busy. Still conducting trainings on the new (and infamously sputtering) program. My throat is tired and voice is raspy from talking so much. I left about 4pm and stopped off at the yarn shop in G-lake. I got the wrong kind of knitting needles for these mittens I want to make. That place is just evil. If I had any extra time, I would consider trying to get a part time job there, just so I could be surrounded by the yarn. THE YARN, THE YARN, THE GLORIOUS YARN!!!

Exchange done, I headed off to my massage appointment. First massage I've ever gotten, professionally speaking. It was nice. Very reasonably priced - I wasn't going to go somewhere and pay "Mario Tricoci" prices! She focused on my upper body, especially shoulders and neck since that is where I hold most of my tension. I was lying there on the table - with my face in that little oval resting spot so you can still breathe - and was trying to answer a question she had asked me. Really the only thing that wanted to come out of my mouth was "Uuuuhhhbbbbbllllllgggg..." I could barely talk. I think that massage is why I slept so hard and had trouble getting up this morning.

Went to Panera and grabbed a soup + 1/2 sandwich for dinner afterwards. Went to the mall for no good reason. NOTHING in the stores, which is probably a good thing. No one shopping either. It's going to be a miserable shopping season for the retailers. I did stop in to the new, revamped Godiva store. I think it looks way too cold and ugly now - all gray stone and cold glass. The old warm woods store was much more "chocolate friendly" if you ask me. I was just going to purchase a single dark chocolate caramel. The girl gave it to me free as a sample. How nice!

That mall has some idiot management though. They've crammed so many goddamn jewelers into that place it's ridiculous. You REALLY have that huge a market for jewelry where you can support about a dozen stores? REALLY? In this economy? I can totally see more of them moving out and that mall quite possibly tanking as a result. I would rather shop at Old Orchard or Woodfield, higher tax rate be damned. There's more selection of the things I actually need to buy - like clothes!

Went to Bally's after the mall and hit the elliptical for a while. Came home and crashed.

Tonight is yoga class.

Tomorrow evening I'm going to the D's after work to get the house key and 411 for when I pet & house/sit for them while they're away for Thanksgiving (five days). I hope to make about $250. I never really set a "fee" when I started doing this for them. I don't know what "the rate" is for this. I was just like "whatever is good" and they've been pretty good to me, so no complaints. $250 over 5 days is $50/day. I'm sure some babysitters get that much for a NIGHT's worth of work. Anyway, if I can get about that I think I will get myself the 32GB iPod touch. I got that spot award from work a couple weeks ago and purchased an Amazon gift certificate with it. That + the sitting money should put me nearly there. I would only have to pay $30-40 more (I'll also need a case for the thing).

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Domestic Bliss

Dear god. Sitting next to someone going through a split with their spouse just makes me...never want to get involved and have kids.

Seriously, I can count the number of "good, making it work" couples I know on one hand. Yes, they're inspiring, but jesus christ, everyone else is fucking MISERABLE.

In other news: I found an online coupon code (SNOW5) for The Popcorn Factory. Nom nom nom. I just got one of my friends a little popcorn gift thing. There's another one down.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

What a fucking JOKE

LIEberman KEEPS his Homeland Security chairmanship. This is utter BULLSHIT. Way to be pussies, Reid & Co.

When Lieberman backstabs you into oblivion again, don't come crying to me or the netroots. God am I pissed.

<a href=http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm>Fucking Harry Reid needs to be BOOTED as Majority Leader. Email him.</a>

This is what I sent:

<i>Congratulations on having NO spine, whatsoever. In an election where the American public OVERWHELMING voted for "change", you all decided to KEEP a known backstabber - Lieberman - in his cushy chairmanship. What were you thinking, or were you even thinking at all? It was never about "revenge", but there should be SOME accountability for Lieberman's gross disloyalty, attacking of Obama and kowtowing to the Bush regime. HE CAMPAIGNED FOR MCCAIN. What part of that don't you get?! The Homeland Security chair should be for a LOYAL Democrat. When he continues to backstab and scuttle Obama's plans, don't come crying to any of us in the netroots. I know I'm sure as heck going to be pushing for a new majority leader since you are clearly not pushing for the change WE THE VOTERS demanded!</i>

Monday, November 17, 2008

A small victory

I was in need of something minty. So I went to the vending machine and purchased some overpriced Breath Savers. Seventy-five cents for a little roll!! Shit, those used to be .35 .

...

Then the machine kicked out two rolls instead of one.

SCORE.

Well, I think Cuban is out...

Adding to the Cubs' woes...Mark Cuban was just charged with insider trading by the SEC.

*rolls eyes*

So now the guy who probably would have been the biggest cheerleader for the team is probably NOT going to be a buyer anymore is my guess. (Add this to Selig's already being prejudiced against him...)

What a waste

...of a morning.

I got my ass up early and in to work to set up for another round of trainings I need to conduct for the new process we have. Supposed to have THREE today.

I'm cruising along...except the platform sort of isn't. Fucking servers are down. Can't even access the goddamn thing. Even better? Our completely inept IT people dedicated to us (yeah, some dedication) are off in freaking California at a convention.

HAD TO CANCEL ALL THE TRAININGS and will now have to reschedule.

This is ridiculous. Fucking IT is making me look bad.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Clapotis!

At long last! I have finished the <a href=http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clapotis>Clapotis Scarf</a>!!!!

Woot!

It looks pretty good. All the ladder stitches wound up correct, which was a big relief. I started this back in May and was SO confused. I just left it on my needles for the longest time while I went on to do other projects. By the time I finally picked it back up in earnest late Oct/early Nov, it was suddenly "easy". I'd tackled other stitches and techniques that gave me a higher comfort level.

The "worst" part of it was the center part of the pattern - the length portion - because it went on FOREVER. Blah blah blah blah!

But now it is done, done, done. I think I will wear this at work tomorrow!

Friday, November 14, 2008

! Aggravation !

GAWD. I just wish this OVERBEARING BORE of a woman would get OFF MY FREAKING CASE at work.

She's riding me for something I feel she doesn't even need to concern herself with. She's a micromanaging, take-the-credit-for-everything-that-isn't-her-own, pit-people-against-each-other type.

*sneers*

I'm fucking ignoring her emails.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

HOLY HELL

Score one more for the 1990s Clinton administration?

KO is covering this...apparently there may be a little known rule that Clinton enacted that would allow him to UNDO most of this last minute bullshit the Shrub is trying to slam through his lame duck session?

Dear God, KO and Lit

Keith just referred to Dick Cheney with a POE reference! Cask of Amontillado!

Score One More!

Begich overtakes CONVICTED FELON Stevens in the Alaska Senate race! Results are finally being tallied from the urban areas which were expected to go Begich's way.

OH PLEASE. PLEASE ELECT BEGICH. Because the last thing I want to see is: (1)Stevens - again CONVICTED FELON - get "re-elected", (2) be kicked out from the Senate for being a felon which results in (3) Palin nominating herself as the replacement Senator. Yes, she could do it. And has as much hinted she is interested in it during her recent interviews.

What a fucking attention whore.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Huh

Is it just me or is Rahm Emanuel kind of good looking in a weird sort of way?

Bi-partisan Cabinet

Ok, I know I am not the only dem-backer thinking the following when I hear all this talk about "centrism" and Obama going for a "bi-partisan cabinet": ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!

Rachel Maddow last night was spot on with her doubts of this (the cabinet bit at least) even being possible. O-man, it's great you want to set aside differences, but let's look at facts, here.

The GOP is a dishonorable, extremist party that is full of wingnuts.

They are still guided by the policies of Rove.

They are crediting their defeat to McCain not bringing up Ayers, Wright and other meaningless shit up early or frequently enough. In other words: they didn't smear you hard enough.

They refuse to take responsibility for any of their actions.

The GOP is the party that crowed about "having a mandate" and "political capital" with barely 51% of the vote in 2004. Now that we beat their asses into a pulp this election - 6% margin, popular vote, DOUBLE EV votes, gains in BOTH houses - they scream and flail that we DON'T have a "mandate". What the fuck ever.

Some GOP dude already said NO to a rumor that he would be pegged for your cabinet.

Does this sound like a group that wants to "work with you"?

Uh, no.

And this all goes double for the Secretary of Defense position. If that person is not a Democrat, I'm going to be furious.

Granted, there may be one or two of them who can be worked with, but this is going to the exception and not the norm. The wingnut faction long ago ran out of most of the reasonable members of that party. Look at Chafee, for chrissake. He now runs Independent and thinks the GOP is fucking crazy.

The Republican Party of old - the one Abe Lincoln hailed from - is long dead.

P.S. OH MY GOD! I can actually watch television news again without wanting to kill people. This is great!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

First kids

It seems that it's mostly been First Daughter(s) in the White House.

Bush has his (idiot) daughters.

Clintons had Chelsea

Bush the First had grown children, so they weren't IN the House.

Same with Reagan

Carter didn't have kids in the House did he?

Well, now we can add Malia and Sasha to the First Kids roster. At least they'll have each other. God knows it isn't going to be easy growing up in THAT limelight. I was reading some Newsweek article and I guess their Secret Service nicknames were (assuming it will change now) "Radiance" and "Rosebud". LOL

Spike O'Dell on WGN this morning was mentioning how they were both cute as bugs (don't get that analogy, I would think "cute as buttons", but oh well). They are. Dude, that Malia (that's the older one right?) is going to be a looker when she's older. (Sasha has the cutest little cherubic face.) Spike was saying Obama is going to have pressure soon: Malia isn't that far from dating age and he's going to go through what most fathers think "YOU ARE NOT DATING!"

It was a fun lighthearted moment on the radio.

And the kids now get a puppy! I guess the oldest wants a golden doodle. Of course PETA is up in arms about this. Myself, I would *prefer* a pound dog to be rescued but I hear there are some allergy issues and golden doodles are relatively easy on that end. I'll give it a pass because of the allergy issue. (A cat would *definitely* be out with dander.)

Still too much

I wish I had five brains and the accompanying sets of eyes to read everything that is coming across today both in news and on my flist.

There is just TOO much to read about yesterday's reclaiming of what our nation actually stands for: HOPE.

Sadly, narrow-minded people (locked in a cave, unable to see the light) like that ellie_kay will never see how beautiful it is that people of diverse backgrounds come together to create something better.

I am happy. Not screamingly so, more in a hushed quiet way of contentment. I am happy that the rest of the world is genuinely happy with our decision. I cannot believe the images from around the world of people celebrating what just happened for us. Foreign nationals - CRYING in happiness for an official that is not even their own. Cautious for the future, but happy that we took such a great step. Look: that is the power America has. ONE nation, among so many, with the capability to either lift other countries/people up like we have in the past ("give us your huddled masses yearning to be free" and WWII as examples) or be an intolerant and domineering imperial power (basically, the entire Bush Presidency).

As the Spidey comics say: with great power comes great responsibility. We do not live in a bubble. What this country does affects the world. To treat other nations disdainfully lessens us. We have damaged friendships around the globe. I hope, I hope that is repaired. We have a lot to make up for.

I'm also really freaking exhausted. But what a great day. What a great start.

Seriously.

Except Obama was pictured this morning in a car wearing his White Sox hat. *sigh* Oh well. I suppose every one has to have a vice...!

Too Much to Process

I wasn't feeling overwhelmed or super-emotional yesterday, watching the returns. Maybe it's the lack of sleep, but today is the day I feel like crying.

I was listening to WGN 720 on the way in to work and Spike O'Dell was talking to some political correspondent in London (a US citizen). She was talking about the world's reaction to Obama being elected, obviously. She told about how random people were just coming up to her when they heard her American accent and congratulating her for Obama's win. She was saying THIS is what Europeans are saying America is really about [paraphrased]: democracy, merit, and equality. We elected a mixed-race man with big ears and a funny [Arab sounding!] name to the White House. Anything is possible.

That made me teary. I've been fortunate to do some foreign travel, and really, during my last trips in 05/06, as an American, I just wanted to be as LOW key as possible. I was embarassed to be identified as an American because of how Bush and his minions had absolutely destroyed our standing and good will in the world. I felt like I had to be apologetic about my nationality and how our country was run by inbred redneck assholes who didn't even believe in our Constitution. Who pretty much shat on our individual rights and gave the rest of the world the middle finger. All I could offer to people I know overseas is: dude, I did NOT vote for this shit. There ARE sane people here, I swear, but we've been hi-jacked by the neocons.

There were cheers in Parliament for Obama.

Dude. America did take a huge step towards growing the hell up (some tv dude said this last night?).

Thank god the Democrats found their feet. Thank god the PEOPLE finally woke up and put off apathy and fucking BELIEVED that things CAN, SHOULD, and WILL be better. This country is not hopeless. I can be proud of my country and hold my head up.

Obama is just one man. He's got huge expectations. Realistically, he can't deliver on everything. All I know is he IS a thinking man. He is caring. He will LISTEN to people (big ears help?), even (and especially) when they disagree with him - UNLIKE THE REPUBLICANS who thought they were above listening to the people! He is going to be asked to lead our country in a time of huge crisis in almost every sector.

McCain's concession speech last night? I like the leet speak "tl;dr" for it. Blah blah blah. Get the hell off the stage. You know, if McCain had run a campaign as "gracious" as that speech was, he probably would have performed better. Instead, he caved to the Rove people running his campaign and fought a campaign of smears, lies and hatred. All of that appealed to the very worst in many of his supporters. Did you hear them booing and screaming at his pathetic little rally in AZ? I was just waiting to hear one of them yell out "Osama" or use the N-word. It's hard to convince your supporters to act like responsible adults, when you've spent a couple years whipping them up into a frenzy of bigoted and mislead hatred. (*snort* Couple years? Yeah, the GOP has spent since at least 1992 demonizing anyone who didn't agree with them.) In other words, McCain: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

CNN coverage got fucking downright annoying after a while. Hello - they couldn't even get right the "last time one party controlled both the Congress and WH". They said Bill Clinton. MORONS - it was GEORGE DUMBYA BUSH AND HIS NEOCONS. *smacks forehead* Yeah, so much for our liberal fucking media bias!

All is not bright and shiny:

Some places went blue that hadn't been in years. Indiana is an example.

Kay Hagan beat the slime campaign of Liddy Dole in North Carolina. Gee, Liddy, I guess calling the Sunday School Teacher "godless" wasn't such a fucking smart idea after all?

Assaults against a woman's right to choose were defeated in North Dakota and another state.

Dan Seals lost to asshat Kirk. *groan* Kirk was all "we'll be there to look over [Obama's] his shoulder when he needs it". WTF?! NOW you're interested in performing your fucking job as a check and balance on the fucking executive branch? NOW? Coveniently after you've spent the last ten years voting party line and with Bush NINETY PER CENT OF THE TIME. FUCK YOU.

Darcy Burner may not have won.

Franken ran tight, but lost.

Tinklenberg did not beat that fucking crazed asshat Bachmann in the MN-06. In case you didn't know, Bachmann is the McCarthy era wannabe who thinks people should be investigated for un-American activities. Whore.

Alaska. From the state that shat out Sarah Palin. Seriously. You people need to get fucking UV lamps or something, because you are living in the dark in more ways than one. You fucking RE-ELECTED CONVICTED FELON Ted Stevens?! Are you out of your mind?! Less than four thousand votes difference. Give me a damn break. Members of his own party - shocking I know, that the Repubs would do this - (in addition to Dems, obviously) have said they will KICK HIM OUT the Senate if he is re-elected. A CONVICTED FELON does not belong in the Senate!

And perhaps most grievously, discrimination is still alive and un-well in the U.S. Proposition-8 was passed in California. (Other discriminating laws were enacted in other states as well.) The GLBT community has been relegated to second-class status. As a straight person, how the HELL does it bother or affect MY life if two gay people wish to marry? Answer: IT DOESN'T. People need to mind their own fucking houses and their own fucking business. Gay people pay taxes and all that shit just like the rest of us. They own a share of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" just like the rest of us. All I can hope is that people continue to fight and file lawsuits all the way up to the Supreme Court on this.

We all saw how well the doctrine of "separate but equal" worked when it came to blacks and whites in this country. Pardon the pun, but clearly "gay" is the new "black" when it comes to discrimination in this country.

In short: we have things to be proud of with this election, but clearly, we still have MUCH to work on.

Amidst a lot of joy...

A lot of rampant homophobia. Discrimination against the GLBT community was given permission to continue in California and I believe three other states.

This is unacceptable.

What the fuck is WRONG with people?

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Calendars

God, I am absolutely addicted to buying calendars around this time of year. Specifically: ones of the British Isles.

If I can't BE there, I can sure as hell look at pictures of them on my calendars.

There are some stunners.

Don't Blow It: VOTE!

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Senator Durbin

Senator Durbin's daughter died today "from complications due to a congenital heart disease". She was only 40.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/1/182459/586/657/649200

Truth in Advertising

TiA has really been tossed to the side these days, hasn't it?!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Work

Jesus Christ, my day has been fucking INSANE. I should go to yoga tonight, but right now all I want to do is sit back with a bottle of something strongly alcoholic.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Xmas Savings

OOoh. Money in my Xmas savings account gets distributed to my main account on Sat, Nov 1. Good to know. I should, I suppose, sit down and make my gift list out so I know what I'm buying for whom. (Not much, this year!)

DAMN IT

I just spilled milk all down my shirt and pants.

*throws hands up*

FUCK

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Application!

DONE, dude. I think I'm gonna go trot off and deliver it this very afternoon!

Sweet!

I just called the temp agency today to see how many vacation days I'm eligible four. It's based on approved hours and I have no way of knowing exactly how many hours that is.

Woot! I have, to date, 1130.33 hours. I was expecting maybe three vacation days. Nope, I get FIVE. Which is still lousy compared to a real employee here, but it's better than what I was expecting! Plus, I do have holiday pay for Turkey Day and Xmas and NYD.

I'm looking at my calendar, and I think I will use my vacation days for the day before and day after Turkey Day (2), Xmas Eve (1), Boxing Day (that's Day After Xmas to us Yanks) (1) and NYE (1).

BTW: I will most likely be staying down in the city for a good chunk of time between 12/19 and 1/2 as I will be apartment sitting/pet-watching for my friend, Anne, while she is in Hawai'i (lucky bitch)! *looks at flist* JULIUS MEINL! LOVELY! YO! ICE SKATING!

P.S. Don't know why this popped into my head just now, but I think my next big picture undertaking should be documenting the first snowfall on the Seminary Premises if I can swing it. Yes, I really have no love for Catholocism, but the Seminary grounds are gorgeous, especially with a first snowfall. You feel like you're a million miles from nowhere, but you aren't.

Ok, back to filling out my job application for the community college.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Dead from the waist down

Good freaking god. I was cleaning up my bookshelf, and I came across a random notebook I'd only sporadically used as a journal. From 2005. It was full of bullshit about the last jerk I dated.

There's a reason I don't journal much about relationships during the odd times when I actually have one: because it's goddamn freaking embarassing when you find the stuff months/years later and realize the jerk wasn't worth any of the heartache.

Moan, moan, moan HE WASN'T WORTH IT. NONE OF IT. *snort* I'd forgotten the "casual" remark he made to me when he broke up with me OVER THE PHONE. That still pisses me off.

What a douchebag.

I ripped those pages out of the journal, tore them into bits and tossed them in the trash. Right where they belong. I couldn't light a fire in my room, or I'd have burned them. That's usually what I do.

Deluded (or Planning on Stealing)

McCain is still saying he's "going to win".

Excuse me, WTF? There is no way in HELL you are going to win. Even all your own wingnuts are saying you're an idiot, lately, and saying that you are bringing down your party with you (which is just fine with me).

And now, speculation that he is focusing so much on PA (even though he is DOWN, way down in the polls) as the place he is "going to win".

Yeah, right. Only if you steal it, you fucking thug.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Botanic_Garden 117

Botanic_Garden 117
Originally uploaded by feigenbaum_04

The rest of my Chicago Botanic Garden photos are uploaded.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Dude

Is it time to go yet? I'm so freaking exhausted. I slept like crap. Gotta stop at Walgreens on the way home and pick up my archival CD of Botanic photos.

Then I need to do some yoga. If I don't fall asleep.

Sarah Palin: NOT a voice for women

Sunday, October 19, 2008

water lily

water lily
Originally uploaded by feigenbaum_04

From my trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden today.

Dear John: No one (Sane) loves you

Recent headline on Yahoo!:

McCain: Obama fundraising hurts public financing

Dear John:

You really are that stupid, aren't you? What a pathetic, LOSER thing to say. Gee, if this were YOU I highly doubt you'd complain. No, you're complaining because you're a LOSER AND LOSING.

This relationship is OVER.

~~XOXO~~

The American Public that Thinks (i.e., Liberals)

P.S. The whole "Obama's plans are Socialism" schtick. *snort* Judging from his insane poll numbers and the way people feel about his policies, I think that means if it is socialism, then people don't give a rat's ass. Call me weird, but I think the fucking tax dollars you bastards rip from my paycheck SHOULD GO TO ME AND/OR SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO HELP OUR OWN PEOPLE. NOT SOME FUCKING CORPORATIONS.

P.P.S. Yes, saw C.P. endorsed Obama. Feel a little torn over this. I mean...yay? But as someone pointed out in Daily Kos, "respected" or not, Powell knew all the lies - from the INSIDE - the Bush regime perpetrated to initiate the illegal war in Iraq. And what did he do? He went to the U.N. and repeated those lies. He is also responsible for this war. He can apologize for this all he likes, but that doesn't change what he did or what happened. He should turn witness on these assholes and help get them prosecuted for war crimes. For that matter, Pelosi should have gotten off her ass and impeached Bush when she first had the chance in 2006.

P.P.P.S. ANOTHER wingnut attacks an Obama supporter: this time in Caledonia, WI. Local newspaper article here. This brought to you by the hate rhetoric spouted by the EVIL McCain-Palin. Remember, McCain is proud of all his supporters. PROUD. I betcha Palin would say those were "real American", you betcha!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Reason eleventy million why wingnuts are assholes

So, there was a blurb on NBC for the news in the commercial break. Obama supporters in the Chicago suburbs are receiving death threats for their lawn signs. Villa Park is where it happened. Three death threats. It's on tv now. Oh, and they phrased it as a "VIOLATION NOTICE" from the village. Oh, and they also called the woman a "n----- lover". Classy. Real fucking classy, you fucking redneck ASSHOLE WHOEVER YOU ARE.

These ignorant rightwinger freaks need to be tossed in jail. They deserve much, much worse.

You're not even people. YOU LACK ANYTHING REMOTELY HUMANE IN YOUR NATURE. *seethes*

I hope they hunt this fucker down.

This is why I have NO RESPECT. NONE. NOT FOR MCCAIN OR PALIN FOR WHIPPING UP AND SUPPORTING THIS TYPE OF ASSHATTERY IN THEIR SUPPORTERS. I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THEIR SUPPORTERS. LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING, YOU BACKWARDS-MINDED IDIOTS.

The Iceman Cometh

THIS reference? Is teh awesome.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/17/navarrette.debate/index.html

Make no mistake, Barack Obama is one cool customer. Now, after the last debate, it seems all but certain that the Iceman cometh to the White House.

Radio talk show hosts and rank-and-file Republicans spent the last few weeks pleading with John McCain to take the gloves off and take the fight to Obama. How's that working out, folks?

In this week's match-up, Obama snatched the gloves out of McCain's hands and slapped him silly with them. I suppose the hope was that Obama would get rattled and make a mistake. But Obama doesn't get rattled or make many mistakes.

Obviously, it takes a lot to get under Obama's skin. McCain sure tried. Maybe this is the guy we want negotiating with world leaders. Maybe after eight years of George W. Bush stubbornness, on the heels of eight years of Clinton emotiveness, we need to send out for ice.

Maybe? MAYBE? No, Obama IS the guy we want.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

You betcha!

Europe mocks "half-baked Alaskan" Palin.

Dear Europe and rest of world:

REALLY, REALLY sorry our country has been run by absolute crooks and shithole liars. Sorry our country has been run by the fucked up idealogues who think Jeebus loves them guns! SORRY, SORRY, SORRY.

Hopefully we're on the way to making amends for that with President Obama.

God, my country is an absolute fucking EMBARASSMENT because of George Bush and these goddamn neocons. They should all be strung up from the nearest gibbet.

In other news: I did in fact cancel my Facebook account. I am trying to let go of the anger I feel towards that one individual, but it's a slow process. I still want to backhand the bitch across the room. What a cunt. Seriously. And I don't use that word a lot.

Yeah, I called Sarah Palin "evil". YES, SHE IS EVIL. If you believe in the whole Judeo-Christian concept of god and the devil and all that crap, then YES Sarah Palin and McCain and a whole lot of that infrastructure is EVIL. They do the devil's work. How can you NOT consider this woman evil when she whips "people" (using THAT term loosely) up into a frenzy of hatred and bigotry and where some start yelling to murder the opposing candidate?! Please, if it were one of us on the Democratic side doing it, you'd all be yelling bloody fucking murder. Just because that bitch squirted five kids (and what mental fuckups THEY probably are) out of her vagina does NOT make her a good person (as that idiot on my former Facebook seemed to imply). Any chick can spread her legs and have a baby. Her being a mother has NOTHING to do with anything. AND THEN, fucking McCain, instead of repudiating such actions, fucking comes on the debate last night and says he's "proud of all the people who attend his rallies". NO HONOR. You fucking wingnuts. Any one want to take a stab and the ways in which I am sure the wingnuts have broken every commandment, all while claiming to uphold truth, justice and the "American" way.

I take comfort in the fact McCain's karmic reward will come as he will probably die of melanoma within the next four years.

I look forward to an overwhelming victory, a filibuster-proof majority, and this country finally fucking having a smart, thinking person in charge and HOPEFULLY recovering a bit of the respect other nations used to have for us.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

You know, SCREW YOU

I friended back someone on Facebook - she's the older sister of someone I barely keep in touch with anymore (not my fault).

She apparently took umbrage to a post of MINE in MY OWN profile wherein I called Palin evil for inspiring hate talk.

Yeah, go figure. Said woman is a military wife. I don't know why she would support a duo who wants to keep fighting unjust and unnecessary wars. Keep drinking the kool-aid, then.

You know what people? If you're a fucking McCain-Palin kool-aid drinker, FUCK OFF. You're not wanted.

I immediately de-friended her. Fuck it, I may just get rid of the whole Facebook thing anyway. I find it increasingly stupid. I keep in touch with the people that matter to me via other means. I don't need stupid ex-dance dates, or crazed sisters "friending" me when they don't know the first damn thing about me and/or are politically stupid.

pumpkiiiiiins!

pumpkiiiiiins!
Originally uploaded by feigenbaum_04

giganto

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Calendar Time

It's Calendar Buying Time again.

Oh boy. There are some absolutely GORGEOUS calendars of London. *sigh*

I miss London.

Andy, I miss you too! I know we haven't talked in forever.

http://www.calendars.com/XQ/ASP/PID.1/MGID.12010/IID.45657/QX/product.htm

http://www.calendars.com/xq/asp/PID.1/MGID./IID.48768/qx/product.htm

Sunset on the Lake

Originally uploaded by feigenbaum_04

Countryside Lake at sunset

Monday, October 13, 2008

Exhausted

I am exhausted today. It's my own fault; I should have gone to bed earlier last night.

My eyes just want to slide shut.

My left leg is also killing me. I have got to stop wearing flip flops - no support! All the cleaning I did yesterday also = ow.

*yawn*

Oh, I wish I could have stayed in bed.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Fucking ridiculous

The DOW continues to freefall at terminal velocity. Now we're below 9,000. Yeah, so much for that ridiculous bailout package! What did it buy? NOTHING. Oh, wait, AIG fat execs got to go play at a posh spa resort. Those fuckers should be sued, or better yet, tarred and fucking feathered. Seriously.

Who's paying? NOT the government. NOT the companies. Those assholes still get their golden parachutes.

YOU AND ME.

My mom thinks she's retiring this December. She's out of her mind. I haven't looked at my Scottrade account. I don't think I want to. I didn't invest all of my money directly into stocks that I'd rolled out of my company SRP once I went contractor, but the majority was invested. I'm sure I've lost at least 25%.

And yet McDeregulationCain said as little as two weeks ago that the "fundamentals" of our economy were strong. WHAT A FUCKING LIAR. He is part of the problem! He was there back in Reagan's day, when this whole deregulation shit first started that was the groundwork for this whole mess. Hello, Keating 5 scandal. Hello S&L scandal.

We're in a fucking recession. There is no "risk" of one anymore. Let's face the goddamn facts. We are IN a RECESSION.

I'm not looking forward to this, but after having just cut the cable service back a tier, I may just tell my mom we need to cancel it. Because I'm not paying for it. (And I know she won't want to. She's already said she'll just have to cut back on stuff when I asked her what she planned on doing WHEN - not IF - WHEN I move out.) I watch DVDs more anyway. I'll miss the Food Channel and Discovery and TLC, but three channels are not worth crying over. I'll still have PBS. I just printed out those coupons for the digital converter boxes.

I put my Netflix account on hold. Now I'll just cancel it.

About the only non-negotiable thing for me is internet service. I have been pressing to ditch the landline - I NEVER use it, why should I pay for it? She's got a cell phone, too. WHY pay for a landline that the only people call are telemarketers? I just need to call ATT and confirm I can just have internet service only. I know they'll jack up the price since I want to ditch the landline. Fuckers.

And while I would love to go see the inauguration for Obama, I'm really doubting I'll have the money to get out there.

If I'm *lucky* I will have money saved for a roadtrip next summer.

Christmas is gonna be fun - well it usually is *snark*. My mom has a habit of getting me stupid presents. I am one of those people who will TELL YOU what I want. Don't ask me what I want, have me tell you, and then go out and get me something stupid I will never use. Gifts from friends are one thing, but I know how hard up my mom can get for money. I try to keep her from spending too much on stupid shit. She can just forgo the Christmas crap. Maybe some yarn. Maybe a book. That's it. I'm telling you, if she gets me anything else, it's going back.

I'm lucky I have nearly $600 saved in my xmas account. That's probably far more than many people have in either their checking or savings. Shit.

I've got to stop eating out during the workweek, too. Weekends with friends is one thing. If I stop going to Panera all the damn time during the week then I can do the weekend crap. Adios, Starbucks.

Gotta go to the comic shop, too. Enough of the kid crap. I'm keeping Fables on my monthly pull. Everything else is stopping. If I want it, I'll get the trade.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

My family, a bunch of stupid ass republicans

God, I really DESPISE and loathe my family some days.

A LOOONG time ago I blocked the Faux News Channel from the cable. Well, apparently my mom caught on. That's all that gets watched at my brother's house of republican bullshit. And then my brother called a couple days ago about it and you can guess how that went. I hung up on him. I wasn't in the mood to talk anyway because of the Cubs losing. He was saying something about how he didn't think it was fair since the cable is in her name...which is when I hung up. I'm sure I pissed him off. He called me back and I didn't answer. Deleted his VM, too, unlistened to.

FIRST OFF, DUMBASS, the cable may be "in her name", but who fucking pays it? Oh, that would be ME. All fucking $82/month of it. It's too bad when I downgraded our service a couple days ago that the Fux News wouldn't be on the tier anymore.

I REALLY REALLY NEED TO GET MY ASS A TEACHING JOB SO I CAN FIND OUT WHERE I SHOULD MOVE TO AND THEN MOVE THE FUCK OUT.

And of course, while I'm taking out the kitty litter, what do I see my mother watching? Fux News.

Drink the purple kool aid, family of mine. Be good and stupid little catholic republicans. *glares*

I know you're not supposed to loathe and despise your family, but when it comes to religion and politics, I could seriously just hit my relatives over the head with a baseball bat. WHY THE FUCK MY MOTHER AND BROTHER - MEXICANS - CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN THAT REPUBLICAN CRAP IS BEYOND ME. YOU FUCKERS ARE BROWN! GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS! THE RICH WHITE FOLKS DON'T WANT YOU UNLESS YOU'RE CLEANING THEIR BATHROOMS, MAKING THEIR FOOD, OR MOWING THEIR LAWNS!

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Hand warmers

Still goddamn cold in here. I am borrowing a girl's handwarmers (fingerless gloves, basically). She is another knitter.

I look like a nauseated zebra. There's a black then a white band top and bottom. In the middle is bright neon green (like post it note color).

But my hands are warm.

Music

Bob Marley, my man, you somehow make me feel like pulling out of this funk.

Go to Pandora and stick in "Jack Johnson". I'm ending up with a nice bunch of mellow, sittin on the beach type of music. Jack, Bob, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, etc...

Friday, October 03, 2008

Oops

I was doing handstands in the last aisle of the fileroom to try and get the blood flowing.

Someone walked in.

HI.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Beef Bourguinon Day 2

STILL fucking tasty.

Hmm. Do I stay and watch the Sux game? Or do I go engage in some retail therapy to calm my playoff-expectin nerves?

SHOPPING

Desperate

I am so desperate for freaking baseball that I may voluntarily watch the Sux-Twinkies tonight.

Jesus. Wednesday can't get here fast enough.

THE HELL

Saturday's game is at fucking NINE PM.

FUCK CALIFORNIA!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Big Fucking Surprise

The Ruthugs just derailed their own "sent-from-heaven" bailout plan. *rolls eyes*

And this *was* surprising: Washington Mutual Inc has been seized by the Feds and sold off to JP Morgan. W.T.FFFFFFF? And their investors are SOL. I used to work for WaMu. Hated it, but I worked in one of the corporate offices for the DVP of HR.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/business/26wamu.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Dear People Who Think Republicans are Great, Moral and Fiscally Responsible:

Please go shoot yourself. We are in the worst recession I have ever been alive for. And whose fault is that? YOURS. ALL YOURS. Because last time I fucking checked, Clinton left office with us all in the black. You fuckers SPENT AND/OR STOLE EVERYTHING YOU COULD AND PRAISED JEEBUS WHILE DOING IT.

Baseball

Welp, the Cubs won - with Bobby HOWRY no less - last night in 10. Glad SOMEBODY stepped up.

This means: the Phillies stay 1.5 games up on the Mets in the NL East, with a magic number of 3 (?). Mets have fallen into a TIE in the Wild Card with...the Brew Crew, who pitched CC Safathia on three days' rest (for the second time, and they'll probably do so AGAIN against us later this weekend).

The Dodgers have a magic number of 1 (ONE) against the Diamondbacks. Yee haw. I want those snakes ELIMINATED, bitches. This is not because I think the Dodgers would be an easier opponent - not at ALL, hello Manny! - but the thought of there being any possibility of us having to go to Chase Field sort of makes me want to HURL.

Playoff picture is still very cloudy with less than a week to go.

We get to play the team with the worst record. I'd like that to be the Mets, but meh. Right now the Mets are in a dogfight with the Brewers for the Wild Card. Fairly certain the other matchup will be Dodgers-Phillies though. That's fine with me. They can go beat up on each other.

Oh, and Minnesota pwned the Sux last night AGAIN. HA HA HA HA. God, I really hope we can get rid of all this ridiculous speculation about a "Red Line Series" (the Red Line, for you non-Chicago folks, is the eLevated train line that runs from Howard on the North side, hits Addison (i.e., across from Wrigley) and eventually goes to the 35th/Sox stop way down on the South Side before ending at the Dan Ryan). So I think the Twins are within a half game? Maybe? If they win tonight I do think they go up on the Sux. Red Line Series? Bad, Bad, BAAAAD idea. Chicago would be a war zone. Fucking Daley wants the bars in Wrigleyville to stop selling alcohol after the 7th inning stretch. What's he gonna do if the Sux make it? Have everyone check in their guns at the bar entrance? Eh?

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Hopeless

This is hopeless. I did not get selected to get tickets.

BIG SURPRISE.

I checked stubhub to be outraged about prices - and was. Near THREE HUNDRED just for fucking STANDING ROOM.

Fuck everyone

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Thoughts

Today's thought-provoking lyrics provided to you by The Root's "Sacrifice":

If you want to reach something in life

You ain't gonna get it unless

You give a little bit of sacrifice

Monday, September 15, 2008

Z

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Originally uploaded by feigenbaum_04

THE NO HITTER!

GAAARRRGH!

Dear GAWD I am fucking AGGRAVATED. I am *NEVER* *EVER* going to the Walgreens at the corner of 176 and 43 for photo developing/ordering photo CDs.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTE RUBBISH.

First time they gave me the WRONG order. Today? The machine busts down and the moron doesn't tell me that my order won't be ready until I fucking pester him.

I call back to check on the status, because it "won't be long" - machine STILL down.

You fuckers, I have pictures of Zambrano's no-hitter AND I WANT THEM. NOW.

I told the guy if he doesn't have them done in half an hour, he can ditch the order because I am going ELSEWHERE.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

WTF?!

And now Palin is threatening RUSSIA with WAR?!

WHAT. THE. FUCK?

Someone, PLEASE toss this dozy bitch into the fucking Bearing Straight, PLEASE.

What day is it?

Well, unless you're a complete moron, you know what today is.

I'm not sad, I'm angry if anything.

Angry because seven years later ...

-- fear is still being used as a tactic to keep the Republicans in power. Lest anyone forget - it's while on THEIR watch this attack happened. They were warned about Al Q and Bin Laden well in advance of the attack. They chose to do nothing.

-- For all his bullshit posturing about "dead or alive" and "mission accomplished", Bush STILL HAS NOT caught Bin Laden or accomplished anything! Why? Because if you catch Bin Laden, you can't use the Boogeyman to scare sheep into submission. They might try to catch BL now to say "yay, we did it, now vote for us again"

-- How many thousands of US soldiers dead in an UNJUST war in Iraq. Hussein would never have had Al Q. Why? Because he was a totalitarian dictator! They would challenge his authority, and there's only room for one. Afghanistan was legitimate - that's where Bin Laden was. Iraq was a complete lie.

-- How many MILLIONS of Iraqi dead?

-- How much national wealth poured into Iraq while people here suffer, lose jobs, no health insurance, lose loved ones, national disasters (like Katrina) here...?

-- McCain uses a backdrop showing the attacks during his speeches. Yes. He actually did. USING THE ATTACKS FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL GAIN.

-- Blackwater and other contractors making large financial gains on the blood, sweat and tears of others

-- "Weapons of Mass Destruction" my ass.

-- Valerie Plame

-- LIES LIES LIES and MORE LIES and on and on and on

Fuck Bush. Fuck McCain.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Food

I could really kill for some serrano jam right about now.

Mmm. Salty goodness.

Must have been that damn Andrew Zimmerman show in Spain yesterday. Yes, I know he's a doof, BUT the Spanish food!!

Monday, September 08, 2008

Holy shit, did he really say that?

I saw this over on LOHO [ http://inaleagueofherown.com ] I mean, yeah, we say it all the time (and oh was it fucked up on Saturday to see him hit a HOMERUN and CHEER FOR HIM), but BOB?!

Something We Heard:

"I never thought we'd see the day when we's say we were glad to see Jason Marquis take the mound."
--Bob Brenley